 And now, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. In a moment, Act One of Black Death, written especially for suspense by Mercer McLeod, and starring Christopher Carey, currently featured in Camelot. Well, it's not getting any better. I can't understand why the light should be so dim. Dear. What? That might be my fault. Why do you say that? When I took the car, put Petal up there. Do you remember? You said you sure and have the battery checked? Oh, say no more. Yes, I'm afraid I forgot. Then that's it. If I stall, I don't think we'll get started again. I'm sorry, darling. Oh. I don't know. I think it's something. I can hardly tell whether we're on the road or not. Don't you think we should? Are we stalled? We are. Well, here goes. Well, that's it. Oh, Charles. And it's all my fault. Now, don't feel bad about it. I don't think we should have made it anyhow. If we were on a main highway, we might be all right. But these small byroads, miles from anywhere... But what can we do? Well, we can sit in the car and hope another car comes along. But the chances of that happening here are remote. We might be better off to walk to help. I'd hate not to make our appointment indwelling. In this way? The cold night, Nora. If we keep walking, we can at least keep one. We're almost certain to find a farmhouse or something. Are you gay? Well, I... I think I am. Then bundle up and let's get on with it, old girl. All right. I'm afraid we won't make welding tonight. Inning to look a little ominous. Yes. We better try calling out Charles. All right. Hello? I think I'm a little frightened, Charles. Come on, let's both call out. Hello? There must be shelter. Yes, there's a light blinking over there. That's for us. Come on. Because we're lost. That's why. 20 miles. Where do you live? Just over the hill there. But it's no use. He won't let you in not him. Who are you talking about? The master. And who is the master? Now, now, wait a minute. You can't leave us. Here. Wait. Yes. Now, listen, you. Whether you like it or not, we're coming with you. Whether the master likes it or not, he's going to give a shelter. You go on ahead. We're following you. Come along. Charles, there's light when I find the key. All right. We'll be inside soon, Nora. Don't say that I let you in. Go straight to that second door past the staircase. Thanks. Well, here goes. It's not an in. Oh, yes. But surely you. Just a minute, Charles. If we were drowning and your boat hadn't by, we'd try to save ourselves by clinging to it. And look at us. We're practically grounded. That's scarcely my concern. Furthermore, my husband is a doctor. He was scheduled to lecture in. Oh, a doctoring? Well, a scientific manner. Well, yes. You need dry things. There's food on the buffet here, and I'll get our coffee. Do sit down. Make yourselves comfortable. Do you mind if we hang our coats in front of the fire? A capital idea. Give me your coat, Charles. I'll spread it out. Thanks, Nora. I'm going to take my shoes off, too. Yes, sir. Oh, well, more coffee, Jacob. Very good, sir. What are you finding so interesting, doctor? These strange diagrams drawn on the walls and floor. Oh, yes, yes. Those are the nuclei of my science. White mice in the cage. And what's this contraption? What does it look like to you? It bears a rough resemblance to a huge camera. But the sides, all this multi-colored glass. I don't know. I'm quite baffled. In there, my friend, is the element black. Black? Black, one of the greatest destructive forces in the universe. But how about you two eating something, eh? Just help yourselves. Coffee won't be long. Oh, thank you very much. It may interest you to know that yours are the first strange faces I've seen here in four years. Really? I spend most of my time hard at work. Very, very hard at work. The results of this work may well benefit humanity. Oh, I'm glad to hear that. Don't understand me. I don't give a rap about humanity. However, I'm more productive to your humanity than I should be if I were full of gush as the sentimentalists, speechifying to get murderers out of prison. Do you follow me? Well, yes. You noticed my man, Jacob? Of course. He's a perfect servant. Makes me comfortable. I have no feeling for him. I treat him civilly, pay him, but I never concern myself with him as a human being. I know nothing of his character except what I read of it in his last employer's letter. There are, you see, no truly human relations between us. Would you imagine his work would be better done if I'd made him like me personally? Oh, I would, decidedly. I'm certain it would not be so. He'd trade on any relationship to my disadvantage. But if a crisis, a crisis. Yes, if you needed his help, not only as a servant, well, supposing you were sick in need, you'd never get from your relationship what can be prompted only by affection. Affection. Put it down. Would that be all, sir? For now, yes. Splendid in human efficiency. I think I'd go mad in such an atmosphere. Never mind, Nora. Now, how do you take your coffee? Black, please. Me, too. Black, eh? Very good. Who gazes on black shares of death. Beg your pardon. You scientists are quite naive, I find. I fail to see. Let me explain. I find that black is not, as it is commonly defined, an absence of color or light. It is a prime essence. A vital being. And light, on the contrary, is mere activity. Well, this black coffee tastes good. I'm glad we're not out in that black night. There you go again. I don't understand. You think night comprehends black? Night is never so dark that you cannot distinguish grades of darkness. There is no black in the darkness of night. Black is absolute. You mean to say that black... Who said anything about blackness? I've been talking about black, not blackness. The one is the positive term. The other a weak, indefinite. Call blackness darkness, and the phrase theology will be much nearer. But when you come to black, you're at grips with the positive element of the universe. The force of parents whose work is death. Then one ought to be afraid to go home after dark. If you had the faintest realization of the infinite significance of the words you use, you would turn as pale... as pale as this stainless cloth. This white mouse, I take it out of its cave, hold it by its tail, and set the black to work. I place it in front of the fabled black ray and... It vanished. Exactly, it vanished. And you, doctor, what do you have to say? I believe I saw something like that years ago at the Palace Theatre in New York. You stupid, stupid man of fire! Yes, sir. Jacob, bring in David immediately. Oh, sir. That's what I said. The old hound dog, David. That is the old one, isn't it? Yes, sir. Then quickly, quickly bring it here. Right away. Doctor, you look at me with the eye of a diagnostician. You would condemn me as a hysteric, or a madman, wouldn't you, doctor? How would you put it? Suffering from delusion. That would be your diagnosis, wouldn't it? Why, I... Exactly. And having placed a tag on me, you'd wash your hands of the whole business. Oh, I know you men of science. Ah, Jacob. Bring that hound over here. Leave us, Jacob! But, sir, not David. I said leave us! If you get, sir... You dislike me, don't you? You owe me. As before, doctor, we set the block to us. They can keep us on fire! As soon as we can. Dear Brandy, we're yours. For our guests too. You don't understand, do you, doctor? Understand at all. Why I became disgusted with you men who call yourselves scientists. You condemn everything that resists experiments. You reject this false any theory which cannot be proved in the laboratory or the dissecting room. You refuse even to consider my findings in regard to apparitions. Apparitions? Ghosts, if you like. This mankind has persisted in believing that apparitions are fact, but mention them to you scientists. But there's never been conclusive proof. Conclusive proof! Tell you that for 23 years I have been investigating a supernatural and that I know, past all doubt, apparitions and supernatural beings exist. What do you think? Unless, of course, you could show me an apparition or some supernatural... Show me! Has it now? Has it? Yes, sir. Did you hear that? The storm. It's over. Yes, I heard. I think we should get out of here as quickly as we can. Oh, so do I. Take a good swig of brandy. It'll help. I did. I don't know how you feel, but I'm ready for that 20-mile walk to Dwalling. Those two demonstrations have convinced me. Darling, I'm ready. Dwalling, did you say? Oh, yes. Why walk? I don't follow you. Why not take the local? The local? Yes. Do you mean local train? Of course. I didn't know there was one. Just one a day. It carries mostly freight. Just one passenger coach. About a mile from here. 11-10. I'll show you the way. Oh, this is splendid, Charles. You'll be able to give your lecture after all. Scientific lecture? Well, sort of, yes. With the proof, doctor? Of course. You know, 17 years ago, I ran away from you scientific fellows and your proof. It seems funny that one should walk in on me tonight. Oh, you and your proof. You think I'm a little mad, don't you, doctor? I shouldn't say that, sir. I'll get our coach. You catch it down by the stone fence. Thank you, sir. I'll leave everything to Jacob. Good night. Thank you for your trouble. Thank you, sir. I'm glad to be out of a whole mad mess. Me too. How do you feel? Fine. The brandy helps. Good. Come on. It's right on time. Turn down a bit better, eh? Here. Here we are. Now we can relax. Oh, I'm so happy to be out of this. Do you think he's a mental case? Oh, I certainly do. Utterly and completely mad. All that business about black. Absolute nonsense. But, darling, what about that dog? And the mouse? They really disappeared, you know. An old magic trick. You know, disappearing rabbit and all that? Just hocus pocus. Nora, what are you staring at? Everybody. Nobody seems to be asleep in this coach. Look at them. Yes. They do seem to. Nora, what is it? Oh, Charles. They're not asleep. They're all dead. Oh, Charles, I never say what's happening. Wait. Wait, Nora. Easy now. Oh, Charles. Oh, darling. Remember? Years ago, an accident. The train jumped the bridge into the valley. A little shook up but fell in one piece. Think we can get them to the house? I think so. Can you help the woman? I think so. Now, can you walk? Yes. Yes. That's the way. Now, off we go. Better, doesn't it? Yes. And another sip. Nora? Where are we? We are in the sunroof of the master's house. Back here again? Yes. You're both very lucky. Boozed and shook up a bit. Could have been lots worse. Am I dreaming all this? And what about that train? That's what you were ranting about when I brought you in. There was no train. There's no line there. There hasn't been one for years. It was a bad accident there years ago. Train jumped the bridge into the valley. Hasn't been used since. But you and your wife were in that accident. I brought it back to demonstrate another power of black. Listen carefully. I made it happen again. Remember what I said about my findings regarding apparitions? Well, what do you think now? Now if you'll excuse me. Now what's going on? I couldn't tell you, sir. I've long since given up trying to understand the master. Well, you're both looking much better. Let me pour you some more brandy. We'll both feel much better when we can be on our way. Here you are. Thank you. I'm dreadfully tired, Charles. What's he doing with that contraption now? No, no, sir. He said something about his most noble achievement. What? Charles? He means human. Listen, Jacob, we've got to get out of here and quickly. You understand? I cannot go against the master's order. Jacob, I want to start with a dog. Bring me one of the older cows. Yes, sir. A dog. You heard what I said, Jacob. We've got to get out of here. I think we'd all better get out. Follow me. Come along, Nora. Where are we going? Any place as long as it's away from here. He wants a dog. I'll get him a dog. Follow me down this corridor. He shall have a dog. I don't know yet. 20 years. Noble achievement. Getting you back. Written especially for suspense by Mr. McLeod. And starring Christopher Kerry, currently featured in Camelots.